MoveMore

Delivered in conjunction with GPs at Old School Surgery in Seaford, ‘MoveMore’ is already improving people’s health and changing lives for the better.

Working together, the GPs and Wave’s Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Luke Greenwood, set-up the referral scheme where patients can be seen by Luke for a 30-minute consultation regarding their condition and medical history, which also takes into consideration personal barriers, goals and other support needs.

Luke uses an ‘I Centric’ approach which explores activities that best suit the individual and they will enjoy, continue with, and improve at. It also explores barriers which may have stopped them from exercising in the past. The lifestyle behaviour change is measured with short, medium and long-term goals which are monitored and evaluated.

Speaking about ‘MoveMore’, Luke said: “Since starting ‘MoveMore’, I have already seen several positive changes that have occurred in our client’s wellbeing, and how once the mind informs the body, the body then informs the mind, and has a huge benefit to physical and mental wellbeing overall.

“Comments made to me in just a brief time have identified this mindset, and it is very encouraging seeing the change in clients. For example, all 42 patients who have been referred to ‘MoveMore’ have arranged an initial consultation at a location of their choice. The attendance levels are great as they are over 93%. 90% of those who attended, arranged to follow-up, with all bar one feeling ready to follow-up at the Downs Leisure Centre in Seaford.

“Over 85% of those who followed up, expressed interest in increasing their physical activity levels with half moving more and participating in an activity of their choice.”

Wave offers a diverse range of activities to suit every individual, but the most common activities that are showing successful results include yoga, a strength and balance class which addresses fall prevention; swimming and general gym-based exercise programmes. ‘MoveMore’ also addresses emotional wellbeing which is a key element of Wave’s overall strategy.

Once deciding on a programme of activity at the surgery, Luke and the Team at Wave then arrange to meet clients in the Downs Leisure Centre in Seaford where individuals are taken - quite literally - by the hand through the new process. From experience, the Wave Team understands the anxiety people feel about walking into gyms, so the hand holding approach helps to encourage people through the initial process and nurtures them back to better health.

The MoveMore Project is for all age groups, and clients currently range from their mid-20s to their mid-70s and, with guidance from the Wave Team, behaviour change at any age can happen over a three-month period, taking a state of dependency to independence.